How our bursaries transform lives

gdst bursary

Noni Csogar
Senior Research and Policy Manager at the Sixth Form Colleges Association
Alumna, Wimbledon High School
Class of 2014

“There is no way I would have been able to access the extraordinary education I received at WHS without bursary support, and that education is a large part not just of where I am today, but of who I am today.”

  • Read more

    “The teachers at WHS opened my eyes to the beauty of so many different disciplines, and particularly shaped my ability to understand how politics shapes art, culture, and history, ultimately leading to my degree and the work I do today in public policy trying to improve educational outcomes and opportunities for all students, not just those who are as fortunate as I was at WHS.

    The financial support I received from the GDST actually extended all the way into my time at university, with the Frederica Lord Scholarship enabling me to fully participate in life at Oxford.”

Isoken Alli-Usman
Senior Legal Counsel at Globeleq
Alumna, Putney High School
Class of 2003

“A bursary allowed me to go to Putney where I was given the belief I could achieve my goals. I was taught to develop resilience and to be pro-active. My school gave me the tools to achieve. Putney shaped my life. It has a special place in my heart.”

  • Read more

    Soké grew up in Vauxhall, South London. When she first applied to Putney HighSchool, no one in her neighbourhood had even heard of the school, leta lone been entered for the entrance exam. Soké did not let that stop her and Putney awarded her a place, having been impressed with her both in the exam and at interview. Unable to afford the full fees, Soké was awarded a bursary and joined Year 7 in 1996. She quickly fitted in and made friends throughout the school, excelling in her studies and developing a particular love of poetry and music, as well as regularly competing in tennis and athletics. Her natural leadership qualities made her an obvious choice for Head Girl, a role which she performed with gusto in her final year.

    The years that Soké spent at Putney High gave her access to a first class education and the broadest of opportunities; but more than that, they taught her that there need be no limit to her aspirations.

 

More alumnae stories

Our commitment to our supporters

The Girls’ Day School Trust is a charitable organisation registered with the Fundraising Regulator.

Our commitment to donors and the public is outlined in the Fundraising Regulator’s Fundraising Promise and all of our fundraising activity is carried out in accordance with the detailed standards set out by the Code of Fundraising Practice.

This includes our commitment to data protection under the GDPR. For queries about how your data is used, see our Privacy Policy.

Find a
school